Humason wins full 2nd Hampden/Hampshire termDate: 11/7/2014 GREATER SPRINGFIELD – After taking the special election last November for the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District’s state senate seat, Republican Donald Humason secured the spot again, trumping opponent Democrat Patrick Leahy.
It wasn’t a camera or a supporter to greet Humason at the door of the East Mountain Country Club door for his election night party. Instead, his son Quinn, decked head to foot in a striped Mickey Mouse outfit, beat everyone else to the race’s victor.
“We won, buddy,” Humason said, picking up his son.
Humason, a man known for his friendly nature, was all smiles as he walked to the podium, shaking hands and hugging his supporters on the way.
“I wrote two [speeches],” Humason said to his supporters. “I threw the other one away.”
Though he had not known he was in the lead, Humason received a call from Leahy, as he conceded.
“I’m obviously very excited for my supporters too because besides these people and my family, we all work hard. It’s not just the candidate,“ Humason said.
The campaign trail for Leahy and Humason had been a trying one. As Humason said, it was an entirely different experience from the 2013 special election, but he did not jump to say that Leahy’s strategies ultimately harmed his cause.
“I can’t say whether I thought his tactics backfired or not,” Humason said. “I know it was a difference between style and temperament and I said that to him, I think, a number of times during our debates that his style was not the style that was exhibited in Boston. It’s a very cordial relationship even amongst the parties.”
Humason earned 57 percent of the district’s vote to Leahy’s 43 percent. The two-year term will begin in January.
After a year in the state senate and 11 as a representative, Humason said that the relationships he has formed in his time have only helped and will continue to do so in his first full term in this seat.
Leahy could not be reached for comment as of press time.
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